"Albiflora"" - Albino Coconut

 Albiflora - Albino Coconut

Does albinism also affect members of the plant kingdom such as the coconut (Cocos nucifera)?

Dr Abe V Rotor

 

"Albino" coconut growing among normal coconut seedlings at the San Vicente Botanical Garden, San Vicente Ilocos Sur.

*From my readings, albinism is a lack of pigmentation in the eyes, skin and/or hair. 

To quote one reference: "Albinism is an inherited condition resulting from the combination of recessive alleles passed from both parents of an individual. This condition is known to affect mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, and amphibians."

Does albinism also affect members of the plant kingdom such as the coconut (Cocos nucifera)?

Yes. In plants, albinism is called  hypochromia and albiflora.  I prefer the latter term for its direct association with the phenomenon.

Albiflora is characterized by partial or complete absence of chlorophyll, and incomplete differentiation of chloroplasts in the cells.  Either or both invariably interfere with photosynthesis, the principal biological process by which the sun's energy is transformed into matter. 

If such is the case, plants affected by albiflora, similar to albino animals and lower organisms, have reduced survivability and are therefore short-lived even before reaching maturity.  This is Nature's way "to correct her own mistake" so to speak,  generally by not allowing them to reproduce, much less to reach population levels which may lead to speciation (formation of new species). 

There are albino plants however, that show certain  variations such as having white flowers, striated leaves and stems, which florists often regard highly for their ornamental appearances.  

There is need to differentiate these plants though, with normal plants, since in the plant kingdom, it is not unusual that chlorophyll, the principal pigment for photosynthesis is masked by other pigments such as carotene (yellow), xanthophyll (red or brown) and other pigments and pigment combinations resulting in blending of various colors, hues, and designs.  In certain studies such pigments, even without chlorophyll, can carry on the process to a certain extent. 

Caution should be exercised that this assumption does not apply to the group of mushrooms, formerly classified as plants, for which reason mushrooms and other fungi are classified under a separate kingdom, Mycophyta. They  obtain their energy through chemosynthesis, which is the counterpart of photosynthesis where sunlight is not available.   

I highly recommend this topic albiflora as a research in biology both on the collegiate and post graduate levels.  In general it is a very interesting topic to study and appreciate the wonders of Nature. ~  

Top, left, clockwise: Mammillaria cactus, Lycoris (spider lily), Aloe vera, Commelina (Wandering Jew)

Albiflora is exhibited in various degrees among these plant specimens. Albinism in plants does not necessarilly follow the criteria in classifying animals as albinos. However, deviation from normal pigmentation, partly or wholly, is insufficient as basis to prove this phenomenon in plants.  - avr ~